A YOUNG Liverpool side slid to defeat in Russia as Lacina Traore's goal gave Anzhi Makhachkala a 1-0 win in Moscow.

Traore struck on the stroke of half-time, leaving Group A wide open with two rounds of matches to be played.

Having left a host of star names back on Merseyside, Rodgers named a somewhat experimental side, making nine changes from the team which had drawn with Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday.

Brad Jones and Andre Wisdom were the only survivors, as Rodgers handed a senior competitive debut to Conor Coady in midfield, with teenager Adam Morgan leading the line in attack. A third Academy graduate, Jon Flanagan, also started, in a side skippered by Jamie Carragher.

And the youngsters began well, passing the ball confidently and retaining good shape.

It took 23 minutes for the first real opening to be fashioned, with Morgan playing in Jordan Henderson with a neat reverse pass. The England U21 captain, however, opted to look for a square pass rather than a shot on goal, allowing Joao Carlos to intercept.

At the other end, Jones was forced to make a fine save to deny Samuel Eto'o ten minutes before half time, after Yuro Zhirkov had robbed Wisdom down the left, but the home side were rarely able to place any sustained pressure on their more callow visitors.

But in first-half stoppage time, Anzhi found a way through. Mbark Boussoufa fired a pass into the feet of Lacina Traore, who flicked the ball over Sebastian Coates with his first touch and then expertly lifted past the advancing Jones with his second from just outside the penalty area.

After the break Morgan drilled an effort into the sidenetting from an acute angle, and then was snuffed out by Joao Carlos as he looked to take Flanagan's pass in his stride. Jones, meanwhile, comfortably fielded Eto'o's curling effort, whilst Traore drilled a 25-yard effort wide after nutmegging Henderson on the hour mark.

Rodgers made a double change on 61 minutes, replacing Coady and Morgan with Suso and Dani Pacheco, but the visitors struggled to create any clear-cut chances, despite plenty of possession.

Jones kept out Traore's point-blank header, before Suso's 30-yard strike was spilled by Vladimir Gabulov, who recovered in time to deny Cole's follow up.

That was Cole's last act, as he was replaced by Oussama Assaidi immediately. Traore then missed a golden chance to wrap up the game, racing clear on to Jucilei's through ball, but sliding his effort wide.

It turned out not to be a costly miss, as Anzhi, despite Liverpool's best efforts, were able to see out the closing stages, with Henderson shanking the best chance well off target in the final minute. Liverpool face Young Boys of Bern at Anfield in their next Group A game, before finishing with a trip to Udinese.